Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
I slept the entire way to Vegas.
Chapter Twenty
Jealousy.
Emmy
The strangest thing happened this afternoon and no matter how hard I thought about the entire mishap, I couldn’t make sense of it.
It was our last night in Vegas. The guys didn’t have a show but were spending the day doing promo. I’d been to so many of those in the past couple months that I knew I wasn’t needed so, instead, I went shopping with The Vixens. The moment I returned, I packed some of the things I bought and took my big case up to the suite so it could be loaded onto the bus.
Just as I went to put a load of clothes into the dryer, Connor cornered me in the laundry room. He pushed his back against the door so nobody would interrupt us, popped the gum in his mouth and announced, “Be at your room around eight.”
Oh.
I made an apologetic face. “I won’t be there.”
“What?”
I began to fold the dry T-shirts. “Noah’s taking me somewhere tonight.”
Connor’s brow furrowed. “Where?”
My shoulders jerked. “I don’t know. It’s a secret.”
His brows arched. “It’s a secret?”
I looked up to find him wearing an expression I couldn’t read. “That’s what he said.”
Why did I feel like Connor was mad at me?
I smiled weakly. “Sorry. Next time, okay?”
“Yeah. Sure.” That should’ve been that.
Then why was he was frowning?
Also, why wasn’t he leaving?
I wasn’t prepared for what he said next. “You know whatever this is with Noah isn’t a date, right?”
My hands stilled and, slowly, I turned to face him.
“Noah. Tonight.” He chewed his gum. “It’s not a date.”
My brow lowered. “I never said it was.”
Connor folded his arms across his chest. “Good.”
This was the first time Connor had said something that genuinely hurt me and not only had it hurt on a personal level but he’d done it on purpose.
My heart was suddenly beating faster. I folded the clothes faster and a little more animatedly. “Because why would anyone want to date me, right?” Connor straightened and I huffed out a humorless laugh. “It’s okay, Connor. I know I’m not one of the beautiful people.”
He looked a little perplexed. “Beautiful people?”
“Yeah. Models, celebrities, influencers. You should know,” I told him as I picked up the folded clothes. “You’re one of them.”
I didn’t mean for it to come out sounding like an insult but he’d hurt me and I was bitter.
Connor sighed, putting his head back against the door. “Look, all I’m saying is—”
But I didn’t want to hear it.
“I know what you’re saying. I get it. Now, step aside.” Staring down at me, I could tell he didn’t want to but he did and before I left the laundry, I smiled tightly. “I guess I should thank you.”
He looked uncomfortable and his voice was barely there. “For what?”
Keep it together, Emmy.
My very soul was wounded.
I spoke quietly. “For your standards being so low. For throwing me a bone. After all, I’d still be a virgin if it weren’t for you.” My eyes locked onto his. “And like you pretty much just pointed out, who’d want to fuck me?”
It was the first time I’d cussed like that. I should’ve known it would be Connor to push me to it.
“Emmy.” He took a tentative step toward me and held out his hand to me. I curved around it, finding the door handle and letting myself out.
As I put the clothes onto the kitchen counter for the guys to sort through, Noah came out of his room and when he saw me, he beamed. “Ready for tonight?”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Connor step out of the laundry and lean against the doorframe, watching us.
My cheeks were flushed from the minor confrontation but I forced out a laugh. “I don’t even know where we’re going.”
“It’s a surprise.” Noah clicked his fingers then pointed at me. “Hey, you have a nice dress to wear, right?”
What? Why?
Now that I’d been spending time with The Vixens, my wardrobe had grown and I found myself buying things I never would have owned a year ago. “I do.”
“Nice.” Noah stepped toward me, putting both his hands onto my shoulders and squeezing the delicate skin there. “Be ready by six.”
Why I did it, even I wasn’t sure. After hearing what Connor said, maybe I craved the affection.
I snaked my arms around Noah’s waist and pressed my face into his chest, breathing him in, pressing my glasses harshly into my own face. There was no reluctance when his arms slid down from my shoulders and around, hugging me tightly. “You okay?”
I nodded into his chest.
He rubbed my back. “We’re gonna have a good night.”
I nodded a second time and when I felt a little like crying, I gripped the back of his shirt, pushing my face deeper into his firm body.
He chuckled and pressed his lips to the top of my head. He spoke against my hair. “Don’t be scared. You’re gonna love it. I promise.”